Fifteen Northern Ireland councils are to share £1.5m from the Department of Environment (DoE) to tackle decay and dereliction in their areas.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said the funds would be used to enhance the environment and in turn boost tourism and local trade.
He said the dereliction funding scheme was going from strength to strength.
The money was confirmed by Finance Minister Sammy Wilson two weeks ago as part of the June Monitoring round.

‘Increasing significance’

Mr Attwood said £2m had already been spent in nine council areas, including Belfast.
“Many more can now do so. This is a project of increasing significance,” he said.
“Tourists will be put off by eyesores. If we deal with dereliction, vacant properties and abandoned building sites, we create the opportunity to attract local investment and tourists.”
Mr Attwood said councils that received funding should “press on” while he continued to bid for funds to take the scheme forward.
“This investment is also for the people of the area. They will have the character of their built environment improved,” he said.

Councils to receive funding

Ballymena £160,000
Armagh £45,000
Ballymoney £100,000
Larne £160,000
Coleraine £140,000
Carrick £100,000
Cookstown £120,000
Newry and Mourne £80,000
Omagh £120,000
Strabane £200,000
Antrim £70,000
Dungannon £17,000
Newtownabbey £80,000
Banbridge £50,000
Castlereagh £30,000

information taken directly from BBC website